Youth Movement: NBA’s 20-Something Stars Set to Battle in Conference Finals

The NBA conference finals, starting Tuesday, will highlight a new generation of stars as the Boston Celtics face Indiana in the East, while Dallas clashes with Minnesota in the West for a spot in the NBA Finals.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum, 26, and Jaylen Brown, 27, are seasoned veterans, with the Celtics having reached the conference finals in the past two seasons. They made it to the championship series in 2022 but lost to the Golden State Warriors and were then upset by eighth-seeded Miami in last year’s conference finals.

In the Pacers, they will encounter a dynamic offence led by 24-year-old Tyrese Haliburton. Meanwhile, in the West, 25-year-old Luka Doncic will lead the Mavericks against 22-year-old Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kyrie Irving, who joined the Mavericks in February 2023, has witnessed firsthand the fearlessness of Doncic and the league’s rising stars.

“They have no fear,” Irving said after the Mavericks defeated top-seeded Oklahoma City in six games in the conference semi-finals. “They want to break our records. They want to beat us every time they step on the court.”

Irving, an eight-time All-Star and 2016 champion with Cleveland, remarked on Doncic’s confidence: “He always walks around like he’s the best player in the world. That’s the confidence of a champion.”

LeBron James, still a force at 39, saw his Lakers swept by Denver in the first round of the playoffs. The Timberwolves swept Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns out of the first round, while the Pacers eliminated Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors failed to advance past the play-in, and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Nuggets were defeated in seven games in the West semis by Minnesota.

Edwards, who is averaging 28.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists in the playoffs, demonstrated his growth in Game 7, overcoming a poor shooting night to play strong defense and help secure one of the greatest Game 7 comebacks in NBA history.

“I’m not one-dimensional,” Edwards said, earning a spot on the US Olympic team.

Irving believes Doncic has the edge in maturity. The Slovenian star, in his fourth playoff appearance, reached the conference finals in 2022. Irving says Doncic is ready to excel with a new supporting cast, including himself.

‘A lot of battles together’

The Mavericks, aiming to add to their lone NBA title from 2011, host the Timberwolves in Game 1 on Wednesday. The Celtics, tied for the most NBA titles at 17, host the Pacers in Game 1 on Tuesday, with Brown and Tatum striving to lead Boston to another championship.

“We’ve been in a lot of battles together,” Tatum said of his partnership with Brown. “Seven years as teammates. He’s been in the conference finals six times, this is my fifth time. We understand our individual capabilities and know how to handle the challenges we face each night.”

Haliburton, in unfamiliar territory with the Pacers, can rely on the experience of Pascal Siakam, an NBA champion with Toronto, who was acquired in January. After a surprising regular season and a strong showing in the new in-season tournament, the Pacers aim to defy expectations with their up-tempo offense.

“We’re the uninvited guest,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said of sixth-seeded Indiana’s presence in the conference finals. “So here we are.”